Formlabs, a Massachusetts-based developer {of professional} SLA and SLS 3D printers, has introduced two upgrades to its stereolithography ecosystem: a second-generation Kind Treatment post-curing unit and a brand new formulation of its Robust 1500 Resin. The corporate states these additions deliver 3D printed elements nearer to the mechanical sturdiness of injection molded parts whereas accelerating manufacturing workflows.
Robust 1500 Resin V2 provides 10 occasions the fracture toughness and thrice the Gardner affect energy of its predecessor, with elongation at break exceeding 150%. These enhancements enable elements to raised resist cracking or shattering below mechanical stress. In accordance with Formlabs, the brand new formulation now compares to polypropylene, a broadly used injection molding materials. “For 3D printing to compete with injection molding it must take a large step by way of materials properties,” stated Max Lobovsky, CEO and co-founder. “With our new Robust 1500 Resin, we’ve made a large step change that brings us considerably nearer to having 3D printed elements compete with injection molded elements by way of toughness and longevity, however with way more design freedom and manufacturing flexibility.”
The brand new resin follows the corporate’s earlier 2023 {hardware} launch of the Kind 4 and Kind 4L SLA printers, which have been designed to scale back half price and enhance printing velocity. The present materials replace addresses the remaining efficiency hole between 3D printed and molded elements by way of sturdiness and long-term mechanical efficiency.
Formlabs additionally launched the second-generation Kind Treatment unit that reaches 60 °C in 60 seconds and allows post-curing of general-purpose resins in a single minute. Engineering-grade resins require lower than quarter-hour. In comparison with the unique Kind Treatment, these enhancements scale back post-processing time by an element of two to eight, relying on the fabric.
This {hardware} has already been adopted by firms centered on high-throughput functions. “Pairing the brand new Treatment with Kind 4, we are able to accomplish that way more with fewer models,” stated Robert Mackowiak, Affiliate Speedy Prototyping Engineer at Hasbro. Matthias Krabel, Managing Director of German manufacturing firm MAKRA PRO, famous the operational affect: “If we do that with our previous Treatment, we want extra Cures to treatment all these elements, that means extra time for us and extra hours we have to pay, so the Treatment (2nd Era) course of is best for us — cheaper and extra environment friendly.”
Alongside {hardware} and materials enhancements, Formlabs launched new options in each its on-line Dashboard and desktop-based PreForm software program platforms. Dashboard now contains Group Queues for automated print task and Cloud Slicing for quicker distant job processing, geared toward groups managing a number of printers concurrently.
PreForm’s newest model provides seven language choices—English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese language—and several other workflow enhancements for high-volume customers. These embody mannequin grouping, bulk mannequin import, and “Add to a Working Job” for selective laser sintering (SLS) printers. These updates are supposed to enhance effectivity for dental labs, service bureaus, and different services managing giant print queues.
With these additions, Formlabs continues to place itself as a supplier of 3D printing programs geared toward each prototyping and manufacturing. The corporate’s product line contains SLA and SLS printers, greater than 45 printing supplies, and a rising set of instruments for managing post-processing and fleet coordination.
Advances in UV-Cured Resin Sturdiness and Put up-Processing Accessibility
Current sturdiness testing carried out on UV-cured resins has proven their potential to compete with engineering thermoplastics in industrial circumstances. Henkel, a multinational chemical compounds and supplies firm, just lately carried out a comparative research by way of its Loctite 3D Printing division to guage how UV-cured resins measure up in opposition to widespread injection molding thermoplastics. The testing centered on Loctite 3D 3843 BK and Loctite 3D IND403 BK resins and benchmarked them in opposition to PA6 and POM. Check procedures included accelerated weathering, warmth ageing, chemical immersion, and mechanical stress throughout various temperatures.
In parallel, PolySpectra, a California-based resin supplies producer, has launched COR Zero, a cyclic olefin resin designed to deliver industrial-grade materials properties to desktop digital mild processing (DLP) and liquid crystal show (LCD) 3D printers. This resin delivers a tensile energy of 53 MPa, a modulus of 2175 MPa, and elongation at break of 18%. Its affect resistance measures 400 J/m (un-notched) and 27 J/m (notched), with a thermal glass transition vary between 125 °C and 145 °C. COR Zero will be post-processed utilizing primary gear together with a freezer and a microwave, eradicating the necessity for costly UV ovens.
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Featured picture exhibits Electrical connectors printed in Flame Retardant Resin utilizing Kind 4 and Kind Treatment (2nd Gen). Picture through Formlabs.
